Colorado 9th in nation for wind energy production in 2012, report says

Environmental group argues for continuing federal wind energy production credits

By Charlie Brennan, Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
11/20/2013 09:22:39 AM MST

Updated:
11/20/2013 09:13:05 PM MST

Wind Energy for a Cleaner America report

Colorado ranked ninth in the nation in wind power production in 2012, with 6,045,000 megawatt hours generated, according to a report released Wednesday by Environment America.

That energy production in Colorado resulted in 3.7 million metric tons of "avoided" carbon dioxide going into the Earth's atmosphere, and 1,634 million gallons of water saved, according to the report, "Wind Energy for a Cleaner America II."

Nationwide, according to the report, wind energy displaced about 84.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2012, also saving enough water nationwide to meet the domestic water needs of more than a million people.

The report was produced by the Environment America Research & Policy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the nation's air, water and open spaces, according to its website.

The report highlights the fact that the federal renewable energy production tax credit and investment tax credit are both set to expire at the end of this year, unless Congress takes action to extend them.

The energy production tax credit provides an income tax credit of 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour for utility-scale wind energy producers for 10 years, and the investment tax credit covers up to 30 percent of the capital cost of new renewable energy investments.

"Wind energy has given us a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving," Julian Boggs, global warming program director for Environment America, said in a news release. "Congress shouldn't close the door on a cleaner America by letting critical incentives for wind energy expire."

The group stated that if America continues adding onshore wind capacity at the rate it did from 2007 to 2012, and takes the first steps toward development of massive potential for offshore wind, by 2018 wind energy will be averting carbon dioxide equivalent to taking 32 million passenger vehicles off the road each year.

It also asserted the nation would be saving enough water to supply the annual domestic water needs of 2.1 million people -- about as many people as live in the city of Houston.

In a news conference Wednesday called in Boulder by Environment Colorado, several people said the data in the report underscored the need to extend the tax credits.

Andy Schultheiss, district director for U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, said Polis remains "hopeful" the credits will be extended, but said it's uncertain how budget discussions in the currently divided Congress will play out.

"It's a long haul," Schultheiss said. "It was a tough sell last year. We got it done for a year, but we've got another tough sell to go this year."

Boulder County Commissioner Elise Jones, standing during the news conference alongside a Boulder Creek that continues to subside from the torrent that flowed through during the historic September flood, couched the issue in terms of climate repair.

"We've been ground zero here in Boulder County for global warming impacts, extreme and destructive weather events," she said. "Wildfires, floods of biblical proportions are the new normal here, and we can't afford it.

"We can't afford it from a tax dollars standpoint, from quality of life, and from a health and public welfare standpoint -- we can't afford it. The answer is a cleaner energy future, and the wind production tax credits are an avenue to pursue that. And we need to all be on board and focused on that."

In Environment America's rankings, the state of Texas ranked first in wind power generation last year, at 31,860,000 MWh, well more than double the second state on the list, which was Iowa, at 13,945,000 MWh.

The report's executive summary argues for continuing the renewable energy tax credits, strong renewable electricity standards and the continued coordination and collaboration between state and federal agencies to expedite siting of offshore wind facilities in areas that avoid environmental damage.